TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT
In order
to open a bank account you will need to go in person to the bank of
your choice
with the following documentation:
-
Passport
(NB This applies also to EU
citizens – passport is only form of ID accepted)
- Fiscal
code
- Salary
Sheet
TYPES OF ACCOUNTS AVAILABLE
There are
two types of current accounts available:
Resident’s Account - If you
are already registered at the Town Hall. Bank fees are cheaper than
those of
non – resident accounts and you are entitled to all services the
bank provides:
-
Credit Card
-
ATM/Debit
Card ( ‘Bancomat’ )
- Cheque
book
- On line
banking
Non-Resident’s Account –
You
can open a bank account even if you are not yet registered at the Town
Hall. Bank
fees are higher and you are entitled to fewer services which vary from
bank to
bank but generally include only ATM Card and a cheque book.
In order
to open a joint bank account, both parties must go to the bank in
person. There
are two different kinds of joint bank account:
‘Conto corrente cointestato a firme
disgiunte’ - where either person can make transactions
without the other’s
signature.
‘Conto corrente cointestato a firme
congiunte’- where both signatures are required for every
transaction.
SERVICES PROVIDED
ATM/DEBIT
CARD (‘BANCOMAT’)
A
Bancomat card can be used to pay for items directly and to withdraw
cash in
Italy and abroad.
Almost
all
ATM machines are available 24-hours. They are located outside banks, in
shopping malls, in airports, train stations, large hospitals.
Be aware
that if you use your own bank’s ATM machines, operations are free
of charge; on
the other hand if you use ATM machines of
other banks you will be charged a handling
fee – this varies from bank to bank but is between 1 and 3 Euros
for each
action.
Services
available through ATM machines are:
- Mobile
SIM recharge
- Bank
statement consultation
-
Utilities bills payment
- Cash
and cheque deposit
In case
of theft or loss of a Bancomat, it is necessary to block it. This can
be done
by dialing the following toll-free phone numbers:
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Exchange
Services
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Banks: automatic 24-hours-a-day exchange machines usually situated
outside many branches in Hinterland.
Change Offices: usually open non-stop
from 8:30 to 20:00. Travellers’ cheques, money transfers, and
cash advances on credit cards are available.
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For
Bancomats with a chip: 800 902631
For
Standard Bancomats: 800 822 056
CREDIT CARD
Credit
cards can be used to pay directly at shops
or on line, to pay utilities bills if
you have this facility, to withdraw money from ATM machines ( interest
rate is
charged for this service )
Italian
credit card accounts have to either be settled on a monthly basis by
funds
being withdrawn from your current account (check debit date with your
bank) or
by monthly installments in case you opt for the revolving option (check
interest rates with your bank).
Most
common credit cards are:
AMEX: 800.131.141
VISA: 800
819 014
MASTERCARD:
800.269.269
DINERS
CLUB: 06.35.75.333
In case
of theft or loss of cards, the numbers
to call are as follows:
AMEX: 06
72 2803 71 or 06 72 282 or 800. 87 2000
VISA: 800.207.167
MASTER
CARD: 800.207.167
DINERS
CLUB: 800 86 40 64
CHEQUE
BOOK
A cheque (Assegno Bancario)
can be used to make payments
and the sum will be debited from your
bank account on the same day if it is cashed on the same bank,
otherwise it
generally takes 6 working days to debit/credit your
account Cheques are not usually accepted
in shops, airports or train stations but are most often used in for the
payment
of services or between private individuals.
Cheques
can either be:
Assegno bancario trasferibile (Transferable
cheque): this kind of cheque can be cashed by a different person than
the one
in whose name the check was originally written out , by signing it on
the back
(in italian “girata”, or 'turned over'). Transferable
cheques can be for a
value of up to E 12.500,00 only. If the cheque is cashed by the person
it was
written out to or transferred to, the individual must write their
"codice
fiscale" (italian fiscal code) on the back of the cheque. If the cheque
is
instead paid into a bank account the "codice fiscale" is not required.
Assegno bancario non trasferibile (
Account payee only cheque ): this kind of cheque can be cashed only by
the
person in who's name it was written . All cheques of a value greater
than
E12.500,00 must be account payee only.
Assegno circolare ( Open/bearer
cheque): this kind of cheque is payable to the person it was written
out to and
who presents it for payment at a counter of the same bank that issued
it. It is
issued by the bank of an individual that has a bank account with that
bank (in
this case the sum will be deducted from the bank account in question)
or in the
case of an individual who does not have a bank account the value of the
cheque
must be paid in cash to the bank. An assegno circolare must to be
cashed within
30 days of its date of issue.
ON LINE BANKING
The
online
banking service allows you to:
- Perform
a financial transaction such as an account to account transfer
- Monitor
your bank statement and list of movements (incoming and outgoing)
-
Recharge your mobile phone
EXCHANGE
SERVICES
In
Italy there are lots of change offices that are usually open non-stop
from 8:30
to 20:00. Travelers’ cheques, money transfers, and cash advances
on Credit Cards
are available.
Change
offices can be found in the centre of the city (tourist areas) and in
airports
and larger train stations. |
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